The Maple Leaf Club

No. 5 Connaught Place,

Marble Arch, London W.

January 3rd, 1917

Dear Mother:

I’m on leave from my unit. I have a four day pass and wired for an extension, thus getting five days. I have to go back tonight. It is an agreeable change to get sitting about in a comfortable writing room and do a few letters. This is the fourth one this morning. I’ve been up about three hours but breakfast and a real hot bath took most of my time. Have just finished a couple of notes to Carman and Reg Topp.

I’ve been chumming around with a boy from Stratford, Jack Murray, about 19 years old, who has been in France for 16 months. This is his first leave and the way he appreciates the comforts of civil life is amusing. He belongs to the cyclist corps, has seen considerable roughing but very little fighting. I told Rae about meeting Hector McKenzie. I had dinner with him on New Year’s Eve night. I’ve met a fellow from Ripley by the name of Martin, who is in the R.C.N.V.R. which is the Royal Canadian Volunteer Reserve. When I saw him last he was a lieutenant in the 161st at Camp Borden. He is 23 but in his he navy uniform he doesn’t look a day over 16, except that he is big and fat. He was a school teacher in Ripley and knows the Barkwells. He says he saw a young Waldon of 160th at Westminster Abbey yesterday. If I had a long enough leave I would have gone to Ayr but the train service is being reduced after the 1st and one can never tell how he can make connections by rail.